The Canada-India Centre for Excellence, in partnership with the High Commission of India and various Ottawa-based Indo-Canadian community organizations, organized an event to mark the the 141st Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on November 4th, 2016.

India’s Acting High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr. Arun Kumar Sahu, delivered the inaugural remarks and highlighted Sardar Patel’s contribution to the foundation of modern India. On behalf of Carleton University, Dr. Pauline Rankin, Associate Vice-President (Research and International), welcomed the dignitaries and participants. In her address, Dr. Rankin also briefly highlighted Mr. Patel’s role in unifying the Indian union and noted that his teachings still bear resonance in the 21st century.

Other speakers at the event included: Mr. Umesh Kumar, President of the India – Canada Association, Mr. Kashyap Desai, President of Gujarati Association, Mr. Bala Madaparthi, President of Festival of India, Dr. Virendra Bharti,Patanjali Yoga and Mr. Deepak Menon, President, Malayali Association also spoke on the occasion.

To mark the occasion, the High Commission of India also organized an essay competition on the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and the winners of the competition were awarded prizes by the Acting High Commissioner Arun Kumar Sahu.

A photographic exhibition on the life of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was also mounted.